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Green Saki with Bertie

This morning I woke up to the sound of the postman trying to squeeze something through my letter box. Normally I would just ignore it and toddle off down to the post office later to pick it up but life's a whole different ball game here in Toyohashi.

Memories of previous 'parcel collecting' negotiations (in my best Japanese) flooded my mind. These painful recollections forced me into immediate action, much to the delight of my postman as after all its not everyday you are greeted by a foreigner in a T-shirt and naught much else.

Anyway I got a book (much appreciated Simon) and I also got a photo documentary of my home village (much appreciated Edmond! it felt like Christmas) and I got an invitation from the Irish ambassador in Japan to attend a reception for Bertie and Celia in Tokyo for St Paddies Day....well I'll be!

My Kiwi neighbour and best friend, Debbie wanted to know how I swindled that one and I just told her the Irish have a sixth sense and can sniff each other out anywhere! She didn't believe that or my tales of Guinness soaked nights in the Beaumont House with the PM. (It's not a lie, there was a lot of Guinness involved and I saw Bertie on my way to the jacks many a time) I eventually told her I registered with the embassy when i arrived, which was not quite so exciting.

Now if I was at home, my immediate reply would be "absolutely...love to come...free booze and grub..any chance of a tv appearance!." But I'm not home and it was going to cost me about 200 quid to travel to Tokyo and back on the Shinkansen (very fast train) for one party. So I thought 'not a chance'. But three minutes later and here I am filling in the reply card with a big YES.

So now I've faxed off the reply and I'm sitting here wondering why I want to go. I've been to these things before. I usually skulk around in the background, giggle with the lads, make fun of the "suits" and eat and drink as much as I can physically hold. If I so much as had to pay bus fair to attend such an event I would normally not have bothered. I guess its that I've been living in Japan for 9 months now and I know I won't be coming home soon, so maybe I want to see who the other Irish are. I may also have found one of the few places on earth that isn't swamped with the Irish. Also I've never been personally invited to such an event. Made me feel a bit important.

I decided to come to Japan when I got a job offer to teach English. Before that I'd never had any thoughts about the place and like most Irish my knowledge of Japan was restricted to karaoke and sushi and the fact they spoke Japanese.

I remember when I told my best friend where I was going she laughed and said 'I knew you'd go somewhere weird'. I recieved similar reactions in my home village- 'But you don't speak Japanese?', 'But they all look different' , 'Where?'. The only semi-reassuring reaction came from my beloved parents who said 'Well it's only a year and it'll be  an experience.' And you know what? They were right. Since I got here I've eaten raw meat, and not just fish I'm talking beef, chicken and pork (and I'm ashamed to say.....horse, but I maintain my innocence, I can't read Japanese so how was I supposed to know?) sang my lungs out in Karaoke, munched on grasshoppers and had my photograph taken more times than the Queen Mother....and I have loved every second of it.

I pay 5 pounds for a beer, I get stared at on a regular basis and I now eat raw fish at least once a day....and every second makes my life that little bit more interesting. Not one day has passed without  that well worn phrase "yer pulling my leg, right?" and the expression "I'm doing grand" has taken on a whole new meaning.

And now I'm off to see Bertie and his 'mot' and I'm going to check out the other Irish and see what's going on here in Japan. Maybe I'll even see someone I know.

Don't snigger. I spent two days in Tokyo and discovered a small section of Dublin City University out there (I used to work in the library there and I got to know a lot faces.)

Japan has to be seen to be believed but it's a very expensive country so if you know someone out there take advantage of it...you'd be missing the chance of a lifetime otherwise.

As usual I'm preparing a list of questions to ask the honourable Mr Ahern, any complaints or thoughts gladly accepted and if the opportunity arrives they shall all be happily shared with An Taoiseach.

Send them all to fbrewer@tuppenceworth.ie

Fiona Brewer
19th February 2001

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